No work started on solar lighting systems

Ludhiana:Municipal Corporation Ludhiana was to get roof top solar lighting systems at MC offices and other MC buildings, but still, no work has started on this project.

The announcement of this project was made around two months ago after the guidelines of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana is ready to get roof top solar lighting systems installed at MC offices and other buildings of department. Municipal Corporation officials have now sent the details of buildings to Punjab Communications Limited for preparing the project after checking its feasibility.

MC has prepared list of eight buildings where they are ready to get this system installed at rooftop. The buildings include zonal offices of MC A, B, C and D, Fire stations of Local Bus Stand and Chotti Haibowal, MC SCO at Gill Road and Multi Level car Parking Mata Rani Chowk. Total roof area of these buildings is 3075 square meters.

The official on requesting anonymity claimed that soon representatives of Punjab Communications Limited will come and conduct feasibility test whether solar systems can be installed at these buildings or not. Followed by which, they would prepare a detailed project report and get approval from the ministry for installation.

He told that MNRE had directed for installation of the solar systems at all public buildings so as to utilise the solar energy, therefore, they have identified eight such buildings. He further told that Punjab Communications Limited is nodal agency for preparing DPR of solar projects and they would get it approved through GOI as well.

It is pertinent to mention here that with the installation of solar systems at the MC offices the department would be able to utilise the solar power and it would also help in reducing electricity bills which they are paying for use of electricity at the offices. Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Ludhiana, Surabhi Malik was not available for comments.